in touch, blundered 5th, weakened from 4 out
in rear, led after 4th, headed 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders and mistakes, lost place soon after 1st, headway 8th, went 3rd 4 out, kept on
with leader, led 4 out, kept on well
led to 3rd, jumped slow 2nd, lost place from 9th, pulled up before 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed after 4th, weakened from 9th, tailed off
Adare Prince can reign in the finale with Bauhaus and Ballybough Jack the biggest challengers to his crown. The selection is just 5lbs higher following his success at Huntingdon where he left Zacharova trailing in his wake. That first success was achieved on just his second chase start and came over 2 miles 5. He has, therefore, got his stamina to prove today and he's also yet to race in ground worse than soft but he should have few problems on either score. Bauhaus has yet to run near his best when there's been significant cut in the ground so can only be watched whilst the jury is still out on Ballybough Jack's ability to race through the mud but he's run well enough under similar conditions to suggest it may not be a problem. Alderbrook Girl and Log On Intersky appear to have lost their way and Adare Prince can show them the way home.
Bauhaus (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Mid-division, led before 4 out, headed next, every chance last, weakened flat, 4th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Kathleens Pride (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Ballybough Jack (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Held up, not fluent 7th, headway after 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Thistlecraft (11-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Adare Prince (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway under pressure after 3 out, hard ridden and stayed on strongly to lead towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan beating The Ring (11-8) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Zacharova (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Behind, never dangerous, 6th of 10, 29l behind Adare Prince (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Alderbrook Girl (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Behind from 6th, virtually fell and pulled up in race won by Alcatras (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Log On Intersky (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Led, mistake and headed 9th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mylord Collonges (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs (5) gs in Jan, 19 ran.
